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September 21, 2015

Staff recognised for their contributions to student learning

UOW staff have been recognised for their contributions to student learning in the latest Office for Learning and Teaching (OLT) citations.

UOW has been highly successful in the 2015 OLT Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, with four citations awarded from six submissions.

The citations range from law to medicine and were awarded in recognition of the diverse contributions made by individuals and teams who have made a significant contribution to the quality of student learning.

The four awarded submissions included The Graduate Medicine Research and Critical Analysis (RCA) Team, whose members include Dr Judy Mullan, Professor Peter McLennan, Dr Kathryn Weston, Dr Warren Rich and Ms Shelley Crowther, were recognised for bringing research and critical analysis theory and practice into an integrated medical curriculum.

“Closing the gap between medical research and practice, starting with the students, is vitally important in training GPs who can provide excellent care that is informed by the latest research,” Professor McLennan said.

An individual citation was awarded to leadership coaching professional Dr Julia Milner. She applies leadership coaching skills a in a range of settings, from managers empowering teams to strive for their personal best, HR employees creating positive organisational cultures or even enabling doctors to better interact with patients.

“It helps students gain insights into real-world coaching cases and work with the latest insights we have from research,” she said. “Students gain a range of soft skills in my classes beyond the grades they achieve that help them to excel at their careers.”

The First Year Law Integration Team (pictured above) of Dr Cassandra Sharp, Ms Margaret Bond, Dr Trish Mundy, Ms Karina Murray and Dr Julia Quilter have spent considerable time and energy re-imagining the first year law experience to promote student wellbeing and success.

“With the knowledge that many law students and members of the legal profession can experience significant levels of stress and distress, the team works to support students transitioning to university, and to help them survive and thrive at law school and beyond,” Dr Sharp said.

“Using relatable, integrated and dynamic teaching methods that draw on contemporary issues to engage students, the first year law program helps students to transform into competent, confident and socially aware professionals.”

Dr Karen Fildes, a Faculty of Science Medicine and Health lecturer, was recognised for leading changes in undergraduate bioscience and postgraduate medicine that enhance the development of student lifelong learning and critical thinking skills.

Deputy-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Eeva Leinonen said the OLT Citations point to the excellence in learning and teaching that is achieved at UOW through working in partnership with students, communities, staff and other institutions to create a dynamic learning environment.

“These colleagues are testament to the leading innovative practices and approaches that engage our students and enrich their learning experiences here at UOW.

“Our 2015 citation recipients join a large pool of UOW educators recognised for diverse innovative practices over a sustained period.”

The four UOW submissions successful in 2015 attracted a prize of $10,000 each.